The founder and chief executive of Tesla Inc. and Space Exploration Technologies Corp. has launched another company called Neuralink Corp. Neuralink is pursuing what Musk calls “neural lace” technology, implanting tiny brain electrodes that may one day upload and download thoughts.
Musk has taken an active role setting up the California-based company and may play a significant leadership role, according to people briefed on Neuralink’s plans.
The first products could be advanced implants to treat intractable brain disorders like epilepsy or major depression, a market worth billions of dollars. Such implants would build on simpler electrodes already used to treat brain disorders like Parkinson’s disease.
The technology faces several barriers. Scientists must find a safe, minimally invasive way to implant the electrodes, and a way to keep them stable in the brain. It also isn’t yet possible to record the activity of millions of the brain’s neurons to decode complex decisions.
[Source]
